Wire line shooting tool



Aug. 10, 1965 J. c. KlNLEY WIRE LINE SHOOTING TooL Filed Aug.. 9, 1963 y m C. m o d INVENTOR Afro/swf n:

United States Patent Office i Patented Aug. 10, 1955 3,199,593 y1/11@ LENE 511554311151@ T081 .liche C. -iniey, 5315 Royaiten t., Houston, Tex. Fiied Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 399,989 6 'Gianna (Qi. 16d-54.6)

This invention relates to new and `useful improvements in wire line shooting tools.

In United States Patent No. 2,175,303, granted to M. M. Kinley, a wire line shooting tool is disclosed. Such tool is adapted to be dropped in a well so that it slides down a wire line or sand line to a rope socket or other point at which the line is to be cut. The cutting is effected in the well by detonating an explosive which serves to force a knife through the line to sever same. Thus, with such tool, a wire line can be cut at any depth in a well so as to make it possible to remove from the well the portion of the line above the cut, while making any equipment formerly on such line more accessible for a fishing operation. Y

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and 1Improved wire line shooting tool having all of the advantages of the tool disclosed in said Patent No. 2,195,303, and in addition thereto, having a new and improved stop means for absorbing the shock of the knife-actuating wedge in the tool to thereby reduce the danger of splitting the tool barrel.

An important object of this invention is to provide a` new and improved tool for cutting a wire line in a well, wherein a drive wedge is moved longitudinally in the tool barrel by the force of an explosion created within the tool, wherein the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge is stopped after it has driven a knife through a wire line or performed a similar function, and wherein the means for stopping the drive wedge is a stop wedge having one or more shock absorbing ridges on the face thereof which ridges are adapted to be displaced by the drive wedge to assist in absorbing the shock of stopping the drive wedge.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a new and improved wire line shooting tool of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,185,303, wherein the drive wedge and stop wedge have their co-acting faces at a converging angle to each other to cause such faces to engage at their upper portions first, and wherein the stop wedge has one or more ridges on its face of a material which is softer than the material on the face of the drive wedge so as to cause a displacement of the material of the ridges by the contact of the drive wedge therewith.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident Vfrom such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to be accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FlGS. 1A and 1B are vertical sectional views, .partly in elevation, which together illustrate the tool of this invention as it is lowered in a tubing or pipe for the cutting of a wire line or the like; n

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1B further illustrate the construction of the cutting knife of the tool of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1B to Villustrate in particular the improved stop wedge construction; and

HG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG.

10, normally made up of several connected partsV forV ease of manufacture and assembly. The barrel 10 has an upper chamber 11 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) in which explosive powder is disposed, with a suitable retaining seal 12 at the lower end. One or more shotgun shells 14, preferably three in number, are disposed above the explosive powder charge 11. When three shells 14 are employed, a retaining cap 15 having a central bore 15a communicating with each of the shells 14 and with the powder 11 therebelow is provided. A ring pin 16 disposed above thel shell or shells 14, such pin 16 having a point or points 16a for contact with the shell or shells 14 so as to detonate same upon a downward blow on the pin 16.

The downward blow on the pin 16 is provided by a iiring head 2d which is slidably mounted in the upper end of the barrel 1d. During the normal use of the apparatus T, a weight (not shown) is dropped down the well within vthe tubing or pipe TV so as to strike a blow on the firing head 2d and thus causing the firing pin16 to detonate the Vshell or shells 14, which results in the detonation or explosion of the explosive in the charnber 11.

The explosion of the powder charge 11 is transmitted to a drive wedge 25 having an inclined or tapered surface 25a. The drive wedge 25 is disposed in the tubular body below the packing or seal 12. The tapered surface 25a of the drive wedge 25 extends downwardlyto a point 25h which is disposed partially behind a knife or cutting element 26. The knife 26 is releasably secured in the bore of the tubular barrel or body 10 by means of a shear pin 28. The knife 26 has a generally cylindrical body portion 26a which lits within and permits sliding in a laterally extending bore 10a so that upon a movement'of the drive wedge 25 downwardly and a shearing of the pin 28, the knife 26 is adapted to move laterally'in such bore 10a. The knife edge 26h is preferably curved or arcuate, as best seen in FIG. 2, for more effectively cutting the cable or wire line L.

In the usual case, the tubular body onbarrel 10 is provided with an external longitudinally extending guide groove 10b in which the wire line or cable L isV positioned as the tool A slides down Vsuch line L in the pipe or tubing T. The line L is thus positioned for positive engagement by the knife edge 2Gb when the knife 26 is forced laterally through the line L by the drive member or wedge 25. Y

A stop wedge or member 30 is mounted in the bore of the tubular body 10 below the knife 26 Vso as to st op the downward movement of the drive member 25 afterV it has forced the knife 25 laterally for the cutting of the line L. The stop wedge 30 isV removably mounted in the bore ofthe bodylt by a retaining pin 32 which extends through the stop wedge 30 and the wall of the body or barrel 16. Internal threads 36a are provided at the lower end of the stop wedge 30 in the usual case to'facilitate removal of the wedge 30 if such becomes necessary or desirable. Internal threads 16C are provided in the lower end of the barrel or body 10 for receiving a plug or similar closure if desired.

Y The stop wedge 3i) has la tapered or inclined surface 33 which is generally formed at an angle corresponding adsense substantially to the angle of the tapered or inclined surface 25a of the drive wedge 25. However, it is preferable to make the surfaces 33 and 25a extend at such angles that they are converging so that the upper portion of the surface 25a engages the upper portion of the inclined surface 33 prior to the engagement of the lower portions of such surfaces when the stop member 3i) is acting to stop the downward movement of the drive wedge 25. For example the inclination of the tapered surface 25a may be approximately seven degrees with respect to the vertical axisrof the barrel 10 while the inclination of the surface 33 may be six degrees with respect to such vertical axis.

Additionally, as best seen in FIG. 3, the inclined surface 33 is formed with 'one or more ridges 33a extending longitudinally on such surface 33. When the angles of the surfaces 33 and 25a are converging as explained above, the upper portions of the ridges or runners 33a are contacted first by the tapered surface 25a. The material of the stop member 30, or at least the face portion 33 thereof, is brass or a relatively soft material as compared to the material used for the drive wedge 25. Normally, the drive wedge 25 is made from hardened steel so that when the face 25a contacts the ridges 33a, they are tiattened or displaced to absorb some of the shock of the downward movement of the drive member 25. Successive uses of the drive wedge 25 are possible without replacing the stop member 30 so that the ridges 33a may become progressively flattened or displaced downwardly along the upper portion of the surface 33 until they are no longer effective.

Although the ridges 33a are preferably constructed as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 3, various modifications may be made within the scope of the teaching lf this invention. For example, the face 33 may be formed with a single ridge 33a or a plurality of such ridges 33a, such ridges 33a being shown as triangular in cross-section in FIG. 3. The ridges 33a may be formed with at surfaces and a rectangular shape in cross-section as indicated at 133m in FIG. 4. Thus, so long as the contacting ridge or ridges are formed to enable the material thereof to be displaced or flattened for absorbing the shock of the drive member 25, the particular configuration may vary as illustrated in connection with the forms of the stop members 30 and 134i shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, or as otherwise provided to accomplish such objectives.

The barrel or body may have one more vent holes ld through the wall thereof opposite the inclined surface 33 so as to permit the escape of most of the air or gas below the drive Wedge 25 as it is forced downwardly. A small amount of the air or gas may be trapped below the lowermost hole 10d by closing same with the semicylindricalsurface 25C of the wedge 25 as it moves downwardly to thereby form a gas cushion to further absorb the shock of stopping the drive wedge.

In the use or operation of the apparatus or tool A of this invention, such apparatus or tool A is positioned in the tubing T at the upper end of the well so as to slide downwardly on a Wire line L Vor similar line in the well tubing T. Normally, the line L is connected to a piece of equipment that is stuck or is otherwise disposed at a relatively low elevation in the tubing T, and the apparatus A is thus lowered or dropped for the purpose of cutting the wire line L at a point near the rope socket or upper end of such piece of equipment. Thus, the apparatus or tool A falls by gravity and is guided along in the tubing I by the line L. When the tool A reaches the rope socket or the upper end of the equipment E and is thus stopped in 1ts downward descent, the explosive il is actuated by lropping a weight (not shown) in the well. Such weight nts the firing head and moves the firing pin 16 to nitially detonate one or more shells 14. The shells in urn explode the explosive 11 and such explosion results n the driving of the wedge downwardly.

Initially the downward movement of the wedge 25 evers the shear pin 28 and then the continued downward movement 0f the drive member 2S forces the knife 26 laterally through the line L to cut same. The downward movement of the drive wedge 2S is stopped by the engagement of the surface 25a and the ridges 33a, as explained above. Because of the particular construction of the stop wedge Sil as described above, the shock of stopping the wedge 2S is absorbed by the stop wedge to reduce the danger of splitting the barrel 10 or jamming the Wedge 25 so tightly against the wedge 3i) as to prevent release thereof for a subsequent use of the tool A.

The apparatus or tool A is then retrieved from the well with a conventional fishing tool or other suitable equipment (not shown). In some instances, it may be desirable -to incorporate a gripping element for gripping the tool A to the line L, as illustrated in the prior Kinley Patent 2,185,303. In such case, the use of the shing tool to retrieve the apparatus A may be unnecessary since the wire line L itself may be used for pulling the tool A out of the pipe or tubing T. Also, in some instances, where the tubing is of a considerably larger internal diameter than the combined cross-sectional dimensions of the line L and the tool A, a guide sleeve which fits around the cable or line L as shown in said Kinley patent may be used and mounted as a part of the body or barrel 10.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various` changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to effect a cutting of a wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said knife for longitudinal movement downwardly to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated,

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having inclined co-acting faces with substantially the same angle of inclination for contact to stop the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge in the tool barrel, and

(f) said stop wedge having a longitudinally extending ridge on its inclined face which is made of a deformable metal and is adapted to be deformed upon contact by the face of the drive wedge to assist in absorbing shock as the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge is stopped.

2. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to effect a cutting of a wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said knife for longitudinal movement to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated,

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having inclined co-acting faces with substantially the samel angle of inclination for contact to stop the longitudrral movement of the drive wedge in the tool barrel, an

(f) said stop wedge having a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced inclined ridges on its inclined face which are made of a deformable .metal which is adapted to be deformed upon contact by the face of the drive wedge to assist in absorbing shock as the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge is stopped.

3. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to eect a cutting of a Wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said knife for longitudinal movement to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated,

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive Wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having inclined co-acting faces with substantially the same angle of inclination for contact to stop the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge inthe tool barrel, and

(f) said stop wedge having a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced inclined ridges on its yface each of which is made of a deformable metal and has a substantially triangular shape in crosssection.

4. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to eiect a cutting of a wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said knife for longitudinal movement to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated,

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having inclined co-acting faces with substantially the same angle of inclination for contact to stop the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge in the tool barrel, and

(f) said stop Wedge having a plurality of longitudinally extending laterally spaced inclined ridges on its face each of which is made of a deformable metal and has a substantially rectangular shape in crosssection.

5. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to effect a cutting of a wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said knife for longitudinal movement to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated, l

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having coacting inclined 4faces for contact to stop the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge in the tool barrel,

(f) the co-acting inclined face of the drive wedge being formed at greater angle with respect to vertical than the inclined face of the stop wedge to cause said faces to engage at their upper portions first, and

(g) said stop wedge having a longitudinally extending ridge on its inclined face which is made of deformable material adapted to be deformed upon contact of the upper porti-on of the face of the drive wedge with the upper portion of such ridge to assist in absorbing shock as the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge is stopped.

6. A wire line shooting tool for cutting a wire line in a well, comprising:

(a) a tool barrel having an explosive charge therein,

(-b) a knife mounted in the barrel for lateral movement to eiect a cutting of a wire line,

(c) a drive wedge disposed in said barrel below said explosive charge and above said vknife for longitudinal movement to drive the knife laterally when the explosive charge is detonated,

(d) a stop wedge disposed in said barrel below said drive wedge,

(e) said drive wedge and said stop wedge having coacting inclined faces for contact to stop the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge in the tool barrel,

(f) said stop wedge having a longitudinally extending ridge on its inclined face which is deformable upon contact by the face of the drive wedge to assist in absorbing shock as the longitudinal movement of the drive wedge is stopped, and

(g) said ridge being formed of a material which is soft as compared to the material on the face of said drive wedge.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,762 11/07 Burge 173-131 2,426,106 8/47 Kinley 166-55.3 X 2,723,532 11/55 Smith 173--131 2,794,619 6/57 Lawrence et al. 166-54.6

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WIRE LINE SHOOTING TOOL FOR CUTTING A WIRE LINE IN A WELL, COMPRISING: (A) A TOOL BARREL HAVING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE THEREIN, (B) A KNIFE MOUNTED IN THE BARREL FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT TO EFFECT A CUTTING OF A WIRE LINE, (C) A DRIVE WEDGE DISPOSED IN SAID BARREL BELOW SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE AND ABOVE SAID KNIFE FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT DOWNWARDLY TO DRIVE THE KNIFE LATERALLY WHEN THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE IS DETONATED, (D) A STOP WEDGE DISPOSED IN SAID BARREL BELOW SAID DRIVE WEDGE, (E) SAID DRIVE WEDGE AND SAID STOP WEDGE HAVING INCLNED CO-ACTING FACES WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGLE OF INCLINATION FOR CONTACT TO STOP THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVE WEDGE IN THE TOOL BARREL, AND (F) SAID STOP WEDGE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIDGE ON ITS INCLINED FACE WHICH IS MADE OF A DEFORM, ABLE METAL AND IS ADAPTED TO BE DEFORMED UPON CONTACT BY THE FACE OF THE DRIVE WEDGE TO ASSIST IN ABSORBING SHOCK AS THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVE WEDGE IS STOPPED. 